Mystery game with balanced packeted containers

ABSTRACT

This disclosure describes a balance game in which a container is supported by means of a semi-rigid strap, or strip, which is fastened to a small elongated article that is supported on a wire frame. The strap fits into a sloping slot or notch in the elongated article in such a way that there is a twisting or bending of the strap which tends to hold the article in a somewhat horizontal position, supported on a frame, in a groove in the bottom of the article. A container is supported by the strap. As weights are thrown into the container there is additional pull downward on the straps which causes the article to tilt and as it tilts the notch then permits it to slide off of the frame when the downward force, due to the weights in the container, is sufficiently great. A plurality of notches are provided so that the device can be made more or less sensitive to weights.

United States Patent [191 McNemar [451 May 14,1974

1 1 MYSTERY GAME WITH BALANCED PACKETED CONTAINERS 22 Filed: July 16, 1973 21 Appl.No.:379,252

[52] US. Cl 273/l02.1 C, 272/8 N. 46/31, 273/] R, 273/105 R [51] Int. Cl A631) 71/02 [58] Field of Search... 273/95 R, 1 R. 102 R. 102 S, 273/1021 R, 102.1 F, 102.1 C, 102.1 G, 102 A, 102 AD; 46/131; 272/8 N Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Head & Johnson 57 ABSTRACT This disclosure describes a balance game in which a container is supported by means of a semi-rigid strap, or strip. which is fastened to a small elongated article that is supported on a wire frame. The strap fits into a sloping slot or notch in the elongated article in such a way that there is a twisting or bending of the strap which tends to hold the article in a somewhat horizontal position, supported on a frame, in a groove in the bottom of the article. A container is supported by the strap. As weights are thrown into the container there is additional pull downward on the straps which causes the article to tilt and as it tilts the notch then permits it to slide off of the frame when the downward force, due to the weights in the container, is sufficiently great. A plurality of notches are provided so that the device can be made more or less sensitive to weights.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDm 14 m4 MYSTERY GAME WITH BALANCED PACKETED CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention lies in the field of games. More particularly, it is involved with a balance type of game in which a pan or container is supported in an unusual way which involves a stiff semi-rigid strap or belt supporting the container.

In the prior art there are examples of so-called mystery or illusion devices which appear to defy gravity by supporting themselves on an overhanging support point. What is not easily visualized is that there is a portion of the device which is attached in a rigid manner to the device so that the center of gravity of the entire assembly can be positioned directly below the point of support, and a stable balanced position can be obtained. In the prior art devices, however, the major portion of the mass is provided at the end of a rigid, preferably metal, elongated member which is attached rigidly to the balance portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide a simple device which can be used as a balance and presents an interesting illusion type of support which appears to defy gravity, but which will slide off of its support when a sufficient downward force is provided.

This and other objects are realized, and the limitation of the prior art overcome in this invention, by providing a short elongated member, which will for convenience be called a bird, and can actually be in the shape of the body of a bird, having a head portion, a neck portion, and a body portion. The bird has a slot in the top of the body into which can be rigidly positioned a stiff strap or strip which supports a container into which weights can be placed. The configuration of the slot combined with the stiffness of the strap makes it possible to support the bird by a transverse slot in its bottom surface on a horizontal wire frame. The pan is supported substantially with its mass in a vertical position below the poinf of support. Although the mass of the container is not supported rigidly from the bird, as in prior art devices, the stiffness and semi-rigidity of the strap or belt which may be made of stiff leather or thin metal or plastic serves to provide a torque around the point of support whereby the bird will maintain a substantially horizontal position even though the container is supported at a point horizontally spaced from the wire frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of this invention and a better understanding of the principles and details of the invention will be evident from the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall view of the preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detail of the wire support frame.

FIG. 3 illustrates to an enlarged scale, the detail of the groove which is supported on the ridge of the wire frame.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the bird is supported on a sharp edge or point.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring nowto the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of this invention. It com prises a substantially heavy, flat, massive base 12, with a vertical rod or wire 14 which has an overhanging portion 16. The end of the wire 16 is made in a shape such as indicated in FIG. 2, with a transverse portion I8 which can be used as a ridge or perch to support the bird. Of course, other arrangements of wire shape are possible as will be evident to one skilled in the art. Also, the device can be supported on an overhanging shelfor bracket.

The balance device, is a short elongated article, which may be called a bird. It can be formed in the shape of a bird, with a head portion 22, a body portion 26, and a neck portion 24. In the neck portion there is a slot or notch 28 which is cut down in a slanting direction such as shown. The angle is not critical, and depends on the stiffness of the strap. The angle of the verticalcanbeinthe range of 30 to 6Q degrees, for example. A container 38 is s upported by a s trap loop, with two ends 34 and 36. The strap fits tightly into the notch 28. Because of the sloping angle of the notch there is a bend portion of the strap shown generally as 35, between the bird and the container. The stiffness of the strap or belt 34, 36 which can be made of stiff leather, cardboard, or thin metal or plastic, for example, causes a torque on the bird due to the curvature 35. This torque tends to rotate the bird clockwise about the point of support of the wire 18. This clockwise torque prevents the bird from falling by rotation in a counterclockwise direction due to the weight suspended from the slot. In other words, if the belt or strip were not stiff, but were instead a simple string or cord, then the weight of the container 38 hangingstraight down from the slot 28 would cause the bird to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and to fall. However, because of the stiffness of the strap or belt, and the substantially rigid connection of the strap in the slot 28 the bird is adapted to remain in a substantially horizontal position, such as shown in FIG. 1, even though it is pulled downwardly, tending to cause it to rotate in a counterclockwise direction by the weight of the container 38.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, there'is a stable position in which the bird remains substantiallyhorizontal being supported on the transverse wire 18 which is placed into a notch 35, and the container hanging directly below the wire 18.

In FIG. 3 is shown an enlarged view of the horizontal wire element 16, the transverse wire element 18 and the body 26 of the bird supported in a groove or notch formed by a steep wall 30 and a less steep wall 32. In

the position shown in solid lines, the bird will not slide off of the wire 18 because of the two sloping'walls 30 and 32. On the other hand, if the bird were to tilt head down, and assume the position shown in the dash lines 26A, then the sloping wall 32 becomes horizontal, or may even slope in the opposite direction in accordance with the dash line 32A. In this case the bird, by moving to the left, can slide off the wire 18 and fall.

It will be clear from FIG. 1 that as weight is added to the container 38, such as by throwing into, or dropping into the container 38, marbles, rocks, or weights of any shape or size, etc. that the additional force in a downward direction will cause the bird to tilt head down, and

3 the curvature of the portion 35 of the strap to become a little straighter. Then as the weight continues to increase by dropping in the weighted parts the tilt of the bird will be such as in FIG. 3 to cause it to slide off the wire or perch 18. This condition arises at a selected value of weight in the container 38.

As shown in FIG. 3 there are a plurality of these notches, each notch having a steep wall 30, 30, 30" and a flat wall 32, 32, 32". If the bird is mounted with the perch 18 in the first slot 30, 32 then it will support a larger weight in the container 38 before it tends to fall. On the other hand, if it was supported in the back slot that is 30", 32" then it will tilt more readily under the force of the weight in the container 38, and will fall at a lesser total weight in the container, thus the sensitivity of the balance game can be changed by positioning the bird in one or other of the slots.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the device in which the bird is supported in one or another of a plurality of narrow notches 44, 45, 46 by being supported on a sharp edge or point 48, on the end of the rod 16. Of course, other means of support can be devised in which for example, shallow holes are drilled in the bottom surface of the bird at positions 44, 45, 46, for example and the support point 48 can be inserted into one or the other of these shallow drilled holes.

While the support for the bird is shown as a sepai rately standing means, the bird can be supported on any overhanging shelf or bracket that can be provided with a horizontal ridge type perch on which to place the bird. The only requirement is that there be space below the perch for the container to hang so that the center of mass of the container will be directly below the perch.

Several different types of games might be played with this device. One such game might, for example, be a game in which the container is supported by the strap attached to the bird. Each of a plurality of players is given a plurality of similar weight units. These mightbe marbles or discs or any type of units, all of which have the same weight. In turn each of the players places, or drops, or throws one of these weights into the container. The player who last puts in a weight unit that causes the bird to tilt and fall is penalized. Also, if the game involves throwing these units at the container,

any player that hits the side of the container and causes a swinging of the container that may cause the bird to fall is likewise penalized. A cover for the container 38 can be used to change the size of the opening.

While the invention has been described with a certain LII degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components. It is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth herein by way of exemplifying the invention, but the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element or step thereof is entitled.

What is claimed is:

l. A balance game comprising:

a. support means comprising a horizontal edge, with free space below;

b. a container supported by a strap loop of semi-rigid material and having means defining a target opening for receiving projectiles aimed thereat;

c. an elongated rod-like article having a front, or

head portion, a back, or body portion, and an intermediate, or neck portion, a narrow transverse slot cut in the top of said neck portion and sloping downwardly and toward the head portion, the width of the slot such as to semi-rigidly grasp said strap, said strap loop positioned in said slot;

d. at least one transverse groove on the under surface of said article spaced back away from the head portion, said article adapted to rest with its groove supported on said edge;

e. the front surface of said groove making a large angle with the horizontal and the back surface making a small angle with the horizontal; whereby when the article tilts, a point is reached where the back surface slopes in the opposite direction, permitting the article to slide off the support edge. 2. The balance game as in claim I in which said strap is of leather.

3. The balance game as in claim 1 in which said strap is of plastic.

4. The balance game as in claim 1 including a plurality of spaced grooves.

5. The balance game as in claim 1 including means to reduce the size of the opening of said container.

6. The balance game as in claim 1 in which said support edge is a round wire.

7. The balance game as in claim 1 in which said support edge is a sharp horizontal edge.

8. The balance game as in claim 1 in which said support edge is an upwardly directed point. 

1. A balance game comprising: a. support means comprising a horizontal edge, with free space below; b. a container supported by a strap loop of semi-rigid material and having means defining a target opening for receiving projectiles aimed thereat; c. an elongated rod-like article having a front, or head portion, a back, or body portion, and an intermediate, or neck portion, a narrow transverse slot cut in the top of said neck portion and sloping downwardly and toward the head portion, the width of the slot such as to semi-rigidly grasp said strap, said strap loop positioned in said slot; d. at least one transverse groove on the under surface of said article spaced back away from the head portion, said article adapted to rest with its groove supported on said edge; e. the front surface of said groove makiNg a large angle with the horizontal and the back surface making a small angle with the horizontal; whereby when the article tilts, a point is reached where the back surface slopes in the opposite direction, permitting the article to slide off the support edge.
 2. The balance game as in claim 1 in which said strap is of leather.
 3. The balance game as in claim 1 in which said strap is of plastic.
 4. The balance game as in claim 1 including a plurality of spaced grooves.
 5. The balance game as in claim 1 including means to reduce the size of the opening of said container.
 6. The balance game as in claim 1 in which said support edge is a round wire.
 7. The balance game as in claim 1 in which said support edge is a sharp horizontal edge.
 8. The balance game as in claim 1 in which said support edge is an upwardly directed point. 